Book Review: "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years"

I recently read through A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Don Miller. I found it provoking and a quick read. I encourage anyone who enjoys good stories to read it.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years is a book of story; specifically, human's story. Miller writes in a way, however, that made me think he is writing about his own story. Later, I felt as if he were writing about me. Finally, I realized he is writing about each human's personal relationship with God and we all have a story to live. I learned a lot about listening to God and the difference of making decisions and simply allowing myself to react to the actions of others.

Honestly, I found myself depressed two-thirds of the way through this book, but I loved the first 192 pages! This portion is exciting, humorous, hopeful, and fun to read. Miller is very humble, but not as self-deprecating as he can be in his other work. Actually, his honesty is raw ... and this is what kept me reading through the final pages when his fun book turned into real issues that I would rather not face. Don't get me wrong, I love when authors write about issues that need to be dealt with. Remember, he writes in a way that makes you feel that he is writing about you. This book should make its readers feel uncomfortable at some point. This turn was so sharp and unexpected, it took me about a week to appreciate what he does with the final portion of this piece. Initially, I was disappointed by his negativity, but he was so open and genuine that I pressed on. His negativity is actually acceptance of reality: so many of us live in a trap of desired utopia. He seems to imply that we put pressure on ourselves to dream up our lives like movies. Over the past week, I have noticed my own tendencies to day dream a perfect story, only to be disappointed when I wake to the reality that is life. In daydreams, we don't dream about paying bills, brushing our teeth, and paying traffic citations, rather falling in love, sleeping in, climbing mountains, and being rockstars! We leave out the part about the being dumped, sleeping in through that important meeting, running down the mountain to avoid a lightning storm only to break a leg, and the lifestyle that being a rockstar would eventually demand. I needed the time since I read Miller's book to digest that his whole point is be content with what God has given you. It is so easy to be caught in the utopian idea that one day we will live "happily ever after." Miller reminds us that in real life, we still have bills to pay, teeth to brush, and traffic citations to claim.

I didn't enjoy reading these "negative" thoughts, but after letting them ruin my recent daydreams, I must agree! We all have days in which we must learn to be content with the realities in our lives and try to live out a story that pleases God through any frustration or pain. I think the writer of Hebrews puts it this way, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5) When I think about it this way, this is an encouraging message!